Chapter 10: Dangerous Encounters

They had just stopped for ten minutes when Eragon spotted the Urgal track.

He was at a creek just off the road, filling his waterskin up. Eragon took a sip of the cold water and sighed with satisfaction. As he stood up, a strange mark in the mud on the opposite bank caught his attention.

Frowning, Eragon tried to crane his head over the water, but couldn't get a good look. A moment later, he was reaching for a branch hanging precariously over the creek, trying to stretch his body as far across the water as he possibly could.

The branch snapped with a sharp sound and then he plummeted into the creek, slamming into the hard stones at the bottom of the creek with his right hand splayed out awkwardly. Pain blazed through his wrist and he heard a loud crack.

Saphira roared in his ears. Eragon!

He swore and grabbed his wrist, rolling in the shallow, freezing water. Eragon scrambled out of the creek and cursed in a long string before he could come up with a coherent response.

My wrist is broken, he gasped mentally.

What on earth were you doing?!

Eragon blinked and then stared around for the mark he had seen. At the sight of it, he felt alarm and anger. He'd recognize that track anywhere.

I found an Urgal track, he told Saphira. Pain made it hard for him to communicate effectively. It's fresh…warn Brom and Murtagh. I don't know how many there are.

I'm coming to get you.

No! Eragon shot back. The trees are..too thick for your wings…I can make it back…"

Your opinion has been duly noted and immediately disregarded! Saphira's furious retort was followed by images of her ripping through the trees to reach him. Panic and anger made her frenzy.

Eragon knew that telling her off was pointless, so he just leaned against the high bank wall behind him, soaking wet and clutching his injured wrist. It was his sword arm, too. Blast, I'm clumsy.

Saphira burst through the trees above him with force, making him yelp as branches went flying. She whipped her head down to stare at him and anger flashed in her intense blue eyes once she took in his current state.

You stupid boy!

Yes, I'm fully aware, he winced. Where's Brom and Murtagh?

A hard smack to his head made Eragon yell indignantly. He looked straight up and saw Murtagh glowering above on the bank he was leaning against. Thorn had his head right beside his Rider and seemed a bit more concerned.

"What was that for?!"

"I leave you alone for ten minutes to get water- ten minutes! How on earth do you manage to do this?!"

"I found an Urgal track!"

"You broke your wrist looking at a bloody track?!" Murtagh growled. "Damnation, Eragon-"

"Silence!"

Brom's roar made the two flinch. The old man looked furious. "We're putting a splint on Eragon's wrist and getting out of here. There's never just one Urgal. And thanks to all the bloody racket you just made, I'm sure they know where we are!"

He dragged Eragon out of the creek by his good hand and yanked the boy through the woods back to their temporary camp. Once they made it back, Brom grabbed some supplies from his bag and got to work. Eragon yelped as he set the splint. The old man was too angry to be gentle with his broken wrist.

Eragon got a gruff "buck up" for his protest.

Murtagh was on Thorn and flew off while Saphira stood guard for Eragon and Brom. He was going to see if he could spot the Urgals from the sky.

They mounted the horses and took off- Brom didn't specify where until Murtagh told them that the Urgals were closing in from the north. At that point, Brom steered their course of travel southeast and hoped to lose them upwind of the raiding party.

Murtagh kept tabs on the Urgal's progress. Brom, they'll be upon the camp in seconds. Once they catch your scent-

-we make for the river. It's shallow enough right now. We can wash our scent off there and destroy the trail. The horses can cross it. Tell Saphira to come get Eragon. He won't be able to cross with his wrist.

Very well.

Murtagh relayed Brom's orders and Saphira was there in a moment. Eragon only briefly stopped Cadoc to mount her and fly off, leaving Brom with the horses.

Eragon found the Urgals quickly and froze. They were surging through the woods, hot on Brom's trail. Even if the old man crossed the river now, they would see him before he reached the other bank.

Saphira, we have to do something!

Like what? You're injured, you fool!

Eragon, there's nothing you can do! Murtagh shouted in his mind. What would you suggest? Land in front of them?!

I don't know! Can't we bombard them with something?

Something seemed to click in the dragons' minds as they flashed each other a glance.

Murtagh gave Thorn a suspicious look. What are you plotting?

There are many trees, Thorn replied innocently.

Yes, thank you for that utterly brilliant observation. Do you think you can drop a few on the Urgals?

Of course we can! We're dragons, the red male said that as if it explained everything.

Murtagh rolled his eyes and grunted. Well, don't just stand there. Let's go find a stick to hit the brutes with.

Thorn and Saphira both flew into the trees and grabbed a few well-weighted saplings. It was difficult to fly with them in their jaws, but the two dragons made do. They got above the Urgal's path of travel and waited until their pursuers were seconds away.

The first tree that fell was Thorn's. It landed smack-dab onto the first two Urgals and promptly knocked them out. Murtagh grinned at the harsh shouts of surprise.

Let's get a little more creative, Saphira told Eragon. Even injured, it wasn't hard for Eragon to do just that. The moment Saphira dropped her tree, he set it on fire with the ancient language. The spell drained his strength further and tired Eragon a lot, but the fiery ammunition took out three more Urgals and set their path ablaze.

When Saphira dropped her tree, Thorn rushed off to grab another and then the blue dragon did the same. They alternated like this a few times, dropping the trees in the Urgal's path and igniting them or just crushing the brutes with them. It was surprisingly effective. Eight Urgals were dispatched in this way, but that left twelve to continue pursuing Brom.

Murtagh cursed. No other option- we have to fight them. Thorn, drop us right in front of them. We'll have to just cut them all down.

Murtagh, Eragon can't help you right now, Saphira argued. It's too risky!

Just keep your distance from them and keep him safe. Leave the fighting to Thorn and I!

There's twelve of them left! You won't make it!

We have to!

Saphira didn't get to object further because Thorn flew down and hit the ground with a furious roar, blocking the Urgal's path. Murtagh leaped off his dragon and flashed Zar'roc out, slashing at the first Urgal he saw. Thorn too, rushed into the fray of stunned Urgals and rent one in half with a swipe of his massive talons. Blood exploded into the air.

Murtagh and Thorn dispatched four of them while the Urgals attempted to regroup, but the remaining eight fought back viciously. One of them locked blades with Murtagh, keeping him immobilized while another made to stab him.

"Jierda!" Eragon shouted. A moment later, the Urgal's neck snapped violently and it collapsed, dead. Black spots filled his vision and Eragon barely managed to stay conscious.

Saphira snarled at him mentally. Enough! You're hurt too badly to fight! Don't you dare cast another spell, Eragon!

His distraction had been enough though for Thorn to help Murtagh out. Once the Urgal that had locked blades with the older Rider had been slain, only five were left that hadn't fallen to the onslaught of Murtagh and Thorn. Two of them ran for Saphira while the remaining three made a suicidal rush at Murtagh.

An Urgal raised it's axe to kill Saphira, but she spun with a furious caterwaul. Her tail snapped out like a bullwhip and a second later the Urgal's head was flying through the air. It's bloodied trunk collapsed immediately. The remaining Urgal had a spear and jabbed at Eragon on her back. That was its worst and last mistake.

Murtagh actually flinched mid-fight as he saw Saphira's claws rip the Urgal into a bloody mess from top to bottom. The beast was gouged into several separate pieces, having invoked the wrath of the blue dragon by threatening her most precious treasure.

He was only able to stay distracted for a moment, however, because an Urgal cut at him with a sword. Murtagh was forced to parry and managed to kick the beast in the chest a moment later to push it away. The Urgal snarled, a guttural sound, but it was silenced by a sickening crutch.

Thorn reared up with the Urgal's body hanging from his jaws, limp after the dragon had snapped its spine. With a furious roar, the red dragon hurled the Urgal into the woods, snorting in satisfaction when it hit a thick tree and hit the ground at an awkward, decidedly dead angle.

Just one Urgal remained.

The beast grunted anxiously as Saphira and Thorn hissed viciously, clearly more than a little eager to rip it limb from limb. Murtagh brandished his sword in preparation to finish the job.

"Stop!"

Brom suddenly rode in. He looked downright furious, but seemed to have something in mind. "We keep this one alive."

"What!" Eragon exclaimed. "But-"

"-not a word from you!" Brom roared. He glared at the Urgal, who seemed to know that he was trapped. "I want to know a few things. Firstly, what is your purpose in hunting our party? Second, who are you working for?"

The Urgal bared his teeth and sneered. "We have been ordered to bring these two before our master! The one who rules over land and sea and sky! His name is one too good for the likes of you, old man!"

"I see," Brom frowned deeply. "You don't need to speak his name. I have guessed who it is you answer to. Why has he recruited you?"

When their hostage did not reply, Brom scowled. "Answer, or I might just change my mind about letting you live."

"I will not say," the Urgal spat.

The entire time Brom and the Urgal conversed, Thorn was slinking around the brute. His tail tip twitched restlessly- he wanted to finish off the last of their pursuers. The Urgal was warily trying to keep the dragons in his sights, but it was impossible to watch both Thorn and Saphira.

He didn't seem to know which was a bigger threat. Thorn was obviously shifting into a killing position, but Saphira looked by far more threatening. She was being ferociously protective of Eragon in his weakened state and had not stopped hissing.

And she looked incredibly anxious to rip the Urgal apart and ensure her Rider's safety.

Brom muttered something under his breath and the Urgal suddenly collapsed.

Murtagh stared in surprise. "Did you kill him?"

"Yes. We could hardly have left him here to tell anyone about our whereabouts," the old man replied. "I had to kill him."

"What did you say?"

"Not important right now," Brom grunted. He glanced at Eragon, who was only on his feet because he was leaning against Saphira's leg. The old man shook his head. "Eragon needs rest. As much as I hate to do this, we'll have to find a place to camp for the night. We could travel for a few more hours, but I don't want him falling off Saphira or Cadoc and hurting himself further."

"We could always strap him into the saddle," Murtagh suggested.

"We could, but I need to do a more thorough check on his wrist anyhow. Also, I'd like to ascertain that you three didn't receive any injuries either."

Murtagh shook his head. "I'm unharmed. Thorn?"

I received a scratch, the dragon admitted. But it is not serious enough to hinder me.

"And you, Saphira?" Brom queried.

I slew two of the Urgals, she said. Her bloody claws flexed into the soil, gouging at it. They didn't get the opportunity to hurt me or Eragon. I ripped them apart.

"Good," Brom sighed in relief. "Well, that makes my job a good bit easier. Let's find a place free of Urgal corpses and get bedded down for the night. Eragon-"

Eragon suddenly collapsed then, and Saphira just managed to stop his fall by slipping her head under his chest to catch him. The boy's eyes were closed and he was limp with exhaustion.

"Oh, great," Murtagh muttered.

Eragon was dreaming of the woman in the cell again.

He was standing in front of her, frozen as she simply hung by her wrists from the chains above them. Eragon tried to open his mouth, but no words came out. She suddenly twitched and his eyes focused on her. Her head came up just a little.

It was enough for their eyes to meet. Eragon found twin pools of the clearest, strongest emerald he had ever seen. Her eyes captivated him and he wondered briefly why they seemed so…unusual. Then she shivered and her head fell back down to her chest as she faded to unconsciousness. A moment later, he too, faded to black.

A throbbing headache was the first thing Eragon discovered when he awoke. He groaned and tried to lift his hand in order to rub his forehead, but it only caused pain to jolt through his arm. The pain snapped him out of his daze and he recalled all that had happened prior to him losing consciousness.

Before he could sit up in a panic, worrying for Saphira and the others, his dragon's voice came to him, clear and soothing.

Be calm, little one, Saphira murmured. You have been asleep for a while. Rise slowly.

What happened? He asked, relaxing since she was at ease.

Saphira's head moved to hover over him as Eragon opened his eyes. She blinked at him. You fainted after the last Urgal was killed from your injury and exhaustion. It's been two days since then.

Two days? Eragon was startled. His body felt stiff, but he didn't think it was because he'd been asleep for that long. What had happened?

We've been camped here since then, Saphira told him. Brom insisted we allow you to rest. Murtagh and Thorn didn't argue with him. I can tell they desperately wish to get on the road again, but your safety is my first concern right now.

Eragon slowly sat up and glanced around. They were in a small clearing surrounded by trees. He briefly wondered where Brom and Murtagh were until he found them talking beside a fire near Thorn. The red dragon was dozing lightly while his Rider and the old man conversed. A few meters away, the horses were tied to a tree and casually eating the grass which grew around it.

Saphira followed his gaze and looked back to him. Are you strong enough to move again?

I have to be.

"Brom?" Eragon called quietly.

Brom and Murtagh's heads jerked towards him and Thorn snorted himself awake. The two older men got up and headed his way. Saphira shifted so that she could place her head on his lap. Eragon scratched her scales gently.

"Awake at last," Brom grunted. "We've been debating whether you would wake at all after your near-fatal act of stupidity."

Eragon frowned. "I was trying to save Murtagh. That Urgal would have killed him if I didn't act."

"I'm fully aware, but neither of you should have engaged them in the first place," he scowled. "We could have lost them and stayed on the move if the two of you idiots didn't try to engage twenty Urgals when you were injured!"

For a moment, Eragon was about to protest, but he thought better of it. They had acted foolishly. It may have been to protect Brom, but all of them knew well that the old man was far from helpless. No doubt he'd had a plan before Eragon and Murtagh decided to take it upon themselves to attack the Urgals.

"I'm sorry," Eragon mumbled lowly. "We were only trying to protect you."

Brom's eyes softened only fractionally. "Your intention was good. But Eragon, you have to think before you act! What were you going to do with a broken wrist? Your sword arm! Did you plan on becoming ambidextrous in that brief moment, or intend on engaging the Urgals with magic? You certainly tried the latter and look what happened! You've been unconscious for two days, Eragon! Two days!"

Eragon was silent under Brom's scolding, knowing full well he deserved it. Brom eventually sighed when it was clear Eragon had learned from his mistake and ran a hand over his beard. "Well, I suppose it could've been worse given that the Urgals could very well have escaped. Since they're all dead, we can rest easy for a bit. And we've learned something important- the King has recruited the Urgals."

"What!" Eragon exclaimed.

Murtagh nodded gravely. "This master they mentioned- the one who "rules land and sea and sky" could only be the King, or so Brom thinks. There certainly isn't any other monarch who would take the Urgals in willingly that we know of."

"It makes sense," Brom admitted. "Galbatorix has been known to recruit unsavory allies- the Ra'zac for one. But more importantly, when I checked the Urgal's possessions, I found parchment detailing their orders to rendezvous with a chieftain within the next month. Apparently, the King truly is the one behind the massing of Urgals in the south."

"But why?" Eragon asked. "Is he planning to attack Surda?"

"No, not Surda. He's going for the Varden. Galbatorix probably hopes that the army of Urgals will wipe out his only legitimate threat and the Urgals themselves all at once. It would be terrible convenient for him."

Eragon ran the possibility through his head and a hard look became fixed on his face. "Those Urgals attacked his own villages and he recruited them? The same beasts who slaughtered those people at Yazuac?"

Brom sighed. "Eragon, you know full well the King does not care about villages. He cares only for his own position as King of the Empire. If massing the Urgals under his command is what he wants to assure his position as monarch, then he will do it. That man will do anything in order to rule Alagaesia."

The grim knowledge ran through their heads for a while until Murtagh crossed his arms.

"So now what?"

"Now we keep moving for Dras Leona," Brom answered. "We will do our best to slay the Ra'zac, and whether we succeed or fail, if we make it out alive we will go straight to the Varden. That's the only place where you'll be even remotely safe if you manage to kill them. Also, from now on, I'm going to drill into the both of you mental exercises as well as continuing swordplay. I'll be damned if I let you two fools get us into another potentially fatal situation like this. Understood?"

Knowing better than to argue with the stubborn and considerably dangerous old man, both brother nodded agreement. Their dragons simply watched, bemused and silent.

The next few weeks passed for the brothers under Brom's rigorous training. During that time, winter gave way to spring as the land began to turn green with life, banishing the cold and white away for another year. Birdsong filled the air and warmth arrived on the wind.

Eragon was forced to duel with his left hand due to his splint and Brom decided Murtagh should try it as well. As a result, both of them became skilled at fighting with both hands, though Eragon slightly more so since Murtagh preferred to switch back to his right whenever they sparred.

They rode along the edge of the Spine near the Toark River, heading southeast towards Leona Lake. It didn't take them long to reach the massive body of water while they were busy training. Brom kept them busy always, whether it was on the road practice of magic and battle scenarios or sparring practice at camp. Time passed in a blur for Eragon and Murtagh.

One evening, when the three of them were sparring by the campfire again, there was a shift in the balance of power.

After blocking the edges of their blades, Eragon, Murtagh, and Brom faced off against each other. By now, Brom had ordered them to fight as individuals instead of as a team simply because he was unable to keep up with both brothers at once. So their sparring sessions consisted of a three-way free-for-all.

As usual, once they were ready, the three men faced each other in silence, judging each other's positions and analyzing the area around them for weaknesses they could exploit.

Eragon grabbed a stick and hurled it at Brom, but his splint got in the way and the old man easily avoided the makeshift attack. Murtagh lunged at Eragon and made a swing for his head. The younger brother ducked under Zar'roc and then rammed his shoulder into Murtagh, sending him reeling away. In that second, Brom rushed in and tried to disarm Eragon, but he managed to parry just in time and leapt away as Murtagh came back in for another attack, crashing his blade against Brom's.

The three blades collided in a flurry of steel, blow after blow raining down upon each of the swordsmen relentlessly. Their faces were locked in place, concentrating fiercely. No one was gaining the upper hand. Eragon was the smallest and fastest, evading any blow with exceptional speed. Murtagh had the greatest raw strength, hammering ferocious blows upon his opponents until their arms jarred. Brom possessed the highest degree of skill, putting his decades of experience to use so the boys were frustrated with their every attempt to disarm him.

But then the battle shifted. Suddenly, Brom was getting tired. Eragon was the first to feel the change in his blows and immediately reacted to it. He jammed his shoulder into Murtagh's chest and shoved him away, then lunged at Brom and slashed an intricate pattern of steel in the most complex move he'd ever attempted. With a burst of speed, his blade collided with Brom's guard and smashed the sword out of his hand. Eragon flicked Undbitr up to Brom's throat before the old man could react. Murtagh stared in surprise.

Brom's eyes flashed with pride, but he shouted. "Don't stop because I'm out, you two can still fight!"

His words galvanized them into action. Eragon whipped around and slashed just as Murtagh attacked, bringing their blades together with a loud clang. Both of them struck at each other with sudden energy, exhilarated that Brom had been defeated first. It was a milestone that would not be overlooked.

The brothers slashed and parried for nearly an hour longer until sweat poured from their bodies and their arms burned from the weight of the swords. Brom would occasionally bark a comment here and there, giving them tips about their form and technique. Eragon and Murtagh finally staggered back and took a breather, gasping for air.

Brom surprised them by stepping in. "That's enough for tonight."

Murtagh blinked. "But we haven't disarmed each other."

"There's no trick either of you can use to defeat the other now," Brom said. "It would simply come down to stamina. Both of you are masters of the sword. Of all the people I have fought, only three of them could have defeated me like that, and I doubt any could do it with their left hand."

Eragon swelled with pride at the compliment.

"I've taught you both all I can. You've been able to counter move after move and still fight on. At present, you're amongst the most rare and talented swordsmen that exist in the race of men. However, remember this; if you ever have the misfortune to fight an elf to the death, trained or not, male or female- expect to lose. They, along with dragons and other creatures of magic, are many times stronger than nature intended. Even the weakest elf would overpower you. That goes for the Ra'zac, too. Never try to engage them in a contest of physical strength, for you will lose."

"Is there any way we can become equal in strength to them?" Eragon asked, still a little breathless.

"A few, but none are available to you now," Brom admitted. "The simplest would be to let you age, but that would take decades- centuries, even. As human Riders aged and grew old, it was common for their bodies to become more elf-like. Their ears became pointed and their eyes slanted slightly. Of course, their magic and physical strength grew as well, but like I said- that would take more time than you have available to you. Magic enhancement would be another way, but it's incredibly draining and simply attempting it with your current skill in magic could exhaust you entirely or even kill you."

"For now, the best way to take on enemies like that is to have Saphira and Thorn assist you. You must meld your strength with theirs and use that to overwhelm any supernatural foe you encounter."

"You mean the same way we would if we were fighting an opponent with magic?" Asked Murtagh.

"Yes," the old man nodded approvingly. "Much in the same way you would engage a foe with magic. However, there is a difference- when fighting an average human magician, simply melding your minds together with the dragons' to crush their defenses would suffice. Against an enemy like an elf, you must combine both your minds and your strength. Without the dragons, you will be defeated."

The boys nodded and Brom smiled as he took in their exhausted forms. "Alright, you two go get cleaned up. If I have to sleep with your stench hanging in the air, I might be tempted to skip dinner tonight."

Without complaint, the brothers sheathed their swords and walked towards the lake together, intent on getting a good bath while Brom cooked.

Neither of them had stopped grinning at their victory.

The next morning, they stopped the horses and stared at their destination with cautious eyes.

They had arrived at Dras Leona.